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Bourbon Year in Review

January
• Bourbon Public Library began a new program called "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten," intended to promote reading for children ages birth through preschool. A book bag was given to each child who reached 1,000 books. Hannah Snyder, 4, was the first to reach that goal and receive her new book bag. She is the daughter of Jeff and Johna Snyder, Bourbon.
February
• The Bourbon Volunteer Fire Department purchased a thermal imaging camera using a grant from the Marshall County Community Foundation and the DNR Firefighting Assistance for Rural Fire Departments. This new updated camera was a replacement for the 10-year-old camera the fire department had been using. With several updated features, the camera promised to increase the safety and effectiveness of the firefighters.
• Triton Jr.-Sr. High School Winter Homecoming King was Blake Lemler, and the Queen was Hannah Downing. The homecoming event was held between the JV and varsity games against Culver High School.
• Bourbon Assistant Police Chief and town council member Gary Collins, 49, passed away at his home Feb. 4. He was rushed to Kosciusko Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead from natural causes, of an apparent heart attack. Fellow officer and Bourbon Police Chief Bill Martin, the responding officer to the scene, was quoted as saying “Assistant Chief Gary Collins was an important part of the Bourbon Police Department for nearly 18 years, and he will be greatly missed. Gary cared about the people of the Town of Bourbon and served them well over the course of his career. Our hearts go out to his wife, Rose and his daughters Jeanna and Danielle.”
• The Triton girls beat Oregon-Davis 62-48 in basketball sectional.
March
• The Triton boys team won the regional basketball championship against Morgan Township 55-47, their third regional championship win in four seasons.
• The Bourbon police department hired two new full-time officers, Rick Kanarr and Matthew Haskins, both of whom had been members of the reserve force.
• Senior boys basketball guard Jordan Everett earned the 2011 Class A Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award. Everett was the second member of his family to win the award as brother Jake also took home the 1A Trester Award in 2008.
• After winning at regional and state contests, Triton High School's Destination ImagiNation team, "Hi 5" went on to compete at a global contest in Knoxville, Tenn.
April
• Several artists at Triton Jr.-Sr. High School entered their works in the 2011 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition in South Bend, vying for placements against artists from 50 other schools, most of them earning stellar ratings.
• United Way of Marshall County and the Marshall County Community Foundation announced that Jennifer Maddox would be leaving her position as executive director. She had been at that position for four years.
May
• Seniors Neil Robinson and Hannah Downing were chosen as prom king and queen, and juniors Kendall Mason and Erik Hoffman as prince and princess Saturday night. The students were selected by their peers in attendance to be the 2011 Triton Prom royalty.
June
• The Bourbon Police Department was able to order defibrillators for every squad car using grant money.
• Sarah Stichter was named the valedictorian for the class of 2011 at Triton Jr.-Sr. High School, with Lindsay Ganshorn earning salutatorian honors.
• Triton FFA students, led by advisor Mike Emenaker, raised more than $10,000 at their auction, the second year they have done so.
Part of the success of the auction was a result of the donator’s generosity. Twenty-four bags of seed corn were donated by local farmers, a $6,000 value.
• A group of teachers, parents, and students undertook the renovation of the Triton Elementary School playground, repainting seesaws and improving on landscaping. "Great things go on inside our school and we want the outside to reflect that too," said Triton Elementary principal Jeremy Riffle.
July
• Jaclyn Bauer, Union Twp., and Blake Lemler, Bourbon Twp., were selected as the 2011 Marshall County 4-H Fair Queen and King respectively. Both are 10-year 4-H members.
• The Triton School board hired are the following new teachers for the 2011-12 year: Kendra Creighbaum, color guard coach; Justin Mort, technology director; and Sarrah Davis, eighth grade girls volleyball coach. Jon Shaffer was approved as a volunteer boys tennis coach.
August
• Six-year-old Kyle Pugh died following a go-kart accident at his home. An autopsy determined that he died from injuries consistent with the accident including head trauma and burns to the majority of his body. Attendees of his funeral were encouraged to wear John Deere clothing to honor Kyle.
• The start of Triton Jr./Sr. High School's year was delayed until Aug. 19 because of a complication with heating and air conditioning installation.
• Bourbon's annual Summerfest parade was dedicated to the late Gary Collins, former DARE officer who passed away in February.
• Mis Tritons were Mary Ann Yeo in the 10-13 age group and Hannah Hooleyand in the age 6-9 group.
September
• Town council members Larry Wattenbarger and P.J. Hanley remained on the council after a caucus to determine the seats.
October
• Kendall Mason was named Triton Junior Miss.
• Dinah Thacker retired from the Bourbon Public Library after 11 years as children’s librarian.
October
• The Bourbon town council decided to launch a downtown incentive program, offering business owners up to $2,500 reimbursement for remodeling the outside of their buildings.
November
• Herschel Walters, of Bourbon, was placed in the horseshoe hall of fame in a special ceremony in Kokomo.
December
• The Trojan Players put on "It's a Wonderful Life" as their Christmas program.
• Former Triton coach Rosalie Kauffman released a Christmas CD titled, "A Silent Night in Bethlehem."
• The Bourbon town council announced several new ordinances having to do with the use of alcohol and firearms in town.
• The Triton High School athletic department inducted new members into the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame: 1965 graduate Joel Berger, 1971 graduate Steve Gochenour, 1972 graduate Max Trowbridge, and 1993 graduate Justina Reichert.